Elopement Packing List

What Should You Pack for Your Elopement?

You’re here because you typed “elopement checklist” into Google at 11pm and every result was a list of 40 things you already own and three things that make no sense on a mountain. I’ve photographed hundreds of elopements across Colorado since 2018, and I’ve watched couples hike in with way too much, way too little, and once with a bottle of champagne and no way to open it. Most packing lists online are written for a courthouse or a beach. This one is written for a trailhead at 5am and 11,000 feet, where the list changes. You are going to carry everything on it on your own back, so every item has to earn its spot. Strap up the boots.

Wedding Dress

One of my favorite things about mountain elopements is the wind. There’s almost always some, and it does half my job for me. A simple, thin skirt that looks a little plain on the hanger can look wild and dramatic once it starts moving. Big tulle and boned corsets do the opposite. They fight the wind, they fight the trail, and they’re miserable to hike in.

For longer hiking elopements, most of my couples pack the dress in a backpack and change at the ceremony spot. That only works if the dress packs small, so look for lightweight fabric and leave the heavy stuff at home. If you want more trail-specific advice on how the whole day flows, my hiking elopement guide walks through it.

Insider tip: test the dress moving, not standing still. Dresses make completely different shapes in motion. Before you commit, try these in a mirror:

• Pick it up and twirl.
• Raise both arms and spin.
• Have someone twirl you like you’re dancing.
• Grab the skirt in one or two hands and run or skip.
• Hold it high over your head and drop it.
• Grab a handful at the hem, hold your arm out at waist height, and swish it up, down, and side to side.

If you love how it moves, you’ll love it on a ridge. And there are no rules here. Whatever fits you and who you are as a couple is the right call.

Vows

The vows are the center of the whole day. Write them on real paper, not your phone. Paper photographs better and it doesn’t light up your face blue at sunrise. Fold them into a coat pocket or a zipped pocket of your pack. I’ve been the trusted vow holder more times than I can count, so if you’d rather hand them to me at the trailhead, I’ve got you. For ideas on what to say, my elopement ceremony ideas post has a lot of real examples.

Shoes

Broken-in hiking boots with real tread. No heels, no smooth-soled dress shoes. A second pair for photos is fine, but it still needs grip. Some of the best photo spots I use are on top of boulders, loose scree, or along rocky ledges. You need stable footwear with actual tread to get there safely. Heels of any kind are out. So are men’s dress shoes with smooth leather soles.

For a longer hike, wear the best boots you own. If they’re new, break them in for a few weeks of walks first. You can keep the boots on for photos (they look great and they tell the story of the day), or pack a lighter pair to change into at the spot. Changing is fine. Changing into something slick is not.

What I tell every couple to pack for their feet:

• Wool socks. Wool wicks moisture and stays warm even when wet. Darn Tough and Smartwool are my go-to.
• A spare pair of socks. Double up in the cold or swap them out if yours get wet at a creek crossing.
• Toe warmers. Your feet get cold first. Drop a pair in your boots on a winter or sunrise elopement.
• Traction. If there’s any chance of snow or ice on the trail, microspikes are not optional. I like the Yaktrax Pro. Get a pair for each of you.
• Snowshoes. Deep or unpacked snow, or off-trail spots where we want photos, can call for snowshoes. MSR makes the ones I trust. My winter elopement guide covers when you’ll need them.

Food and Snacks

Depending on how long you’re going to be out on your adventure, packing the right food for the day and packing enough water is key to tackling any trail! If you’re going to be longer, packing a few snacks or even a small treat to enjoy post-nuptials will go a long way in having an awesome day.

Staying hydrated helps you handle the elevation. I tell every couple to arrive at least 48 hours early to acclimate, 72 if we’re doing a bigger hike, and to drink water like it’s their job the whole time. A Camelbak reservoir is the easiest way to keep sipping without stopping. On long hikes I bring a Sawyer Mini filter so we can refill from a stream.

For food, pack things that give you energy without sitting heavy. Peanut butter, Clif bars, beef jerky, and trail mix are my staples. Bobo’s bars, Honey Stinger waffles, Oloves olive packs, and Patagonia Provisions are in my pack on a regular basis too. For sunrise starts, when nobody has an appetite at 4am, runner gels or energy chews get calories in fast.

Then bring the fun stuff. Picnic supplies are a staple on my elopements because they feed you and they make for great photos. Lay it all out on a blanket after the vows. A thermos of coffee, tea, or soup is the best thing you can hand someone on a cold summit. If you want to go bigger, a small backpacking stove like the MSR PocketRocket boils water in minutes for a hot breakfast, and Good To-Go makes the only dehydrated meals I’ll eat on purpose!

Rings

Rings get lost two ways: they fall out of a loose pocket on the trail, or they end up at the bottom of a pack under six layers. The fix is the sock trick. Put the ring box inside a rolled-up sock, then put that in your backpack. The sock pads the box and makes it big enough to find by feel. If you have a friend or family member along, they can hold the rings, but on a private two-person elopement the sock is the move.

Letters From Friends and Family

Are you planning a private elopement but still want to cherish your family’s presence? Invite them to pen down heartfelt letters for you to unveil during your special day! Packing and perusing these letters not only create beautiful photo opportunities but also add a sentimental touch without weighing down your pack. Trust me, including these letters in your elopement essentials will be an unforgettable decision!

Read more about how to include your family in your elopement!

Flowers

Flowers will absolutely elevate your photos. There are plenty of online flower shops which have ready-to-go bouquets, or you can go with a local florist or even make your own bouquet! You have plenty of options for having beautiful flowers on your special day. BUT remember to keep in mind the season as the florist generally use flowers that are in season. It’s better to be prepared and have realistic exceptions so you aren’t disappointed with the color options! Packing your flowers to the side or the top of your backpack is what the majority of my couples do!

Champagne and Beer

Do you know what’s an absolute must-have in your packing list? Champagne! Why, you ask? Because there’s no finer way to toast to an unforgettable day than with those effervescent bubbles! Pop that bottle open and let the celebration flow! And hey, if champagne’s not your thing, crack open a cold beer and raise a toast to adventure and good times. Cheers!

Marriage License

Every state does this differently. Some require a witness, some an officiant, some a waiting period. Colorado requires none of that. You pick up your license at any county clerk’s office, you hike, you say your vows, you sign the license yourselves, and you return it. My self-solemnizing elopement guide covers the exact steps, costs, and county details.

Bring the license in a zip bag so it survives a surprise rain shower, and bring a pen. You would be shocked how many people hike to 12,000 feet without a pen. If your location needs a permit, print it and save it on your phone, since there’s no signal at most of my spots. If you’re flying in, pick up the license when you land, not on the day. I tell every couple to be in Colorado at least 48 hours ahead anyway to acclimate, so the timing takes care of itself.

Layers

Base layer, warm mid layer, and a packable rain shell. It can snow at 12,000 feet in July, so pack for four seasons.

Mountain weather does not care about your date. Above treeline it can go from sun to sleet in twenty minutes, and I’ve seen snow in every month of the year. Layers are how you stay comfortable and how you stay safe. Most days we roll through a little weather and keep shooting. The couples who packed layers never notice. The ones who didn’t spend the afternoon shivering.

Elopement Photographer

Okay, so maybe a photographer isn’t something you pack but having a photographer come along with you on your elopement journey will allow you to capture those extra special moments you will cherish forever. At Vows and Peaks, your photographer (me!) will not only capture all of these special, intimate moments but will also help you plan the perfect adventure elopement destination! Need help nailing down an epic location? Check out some of my best places to elope in Colorado!